Wheel-tire.



A. J. MICHELIN.

WHEEL TIRE.`

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1907.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

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A. J. MICHELIN.

WHEEL TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1907.

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WHEEL TIRE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY. 31,1907.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

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l' E i ANDR JULES MICHELIN, 0F CLERMONT-FERRAND, FRANCE.

WHEEL-TIRE. v

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

. i Application filed July 31, 1907. Serial No. 386,470.

T0 all 'whom t may concern.'

Beit known that I, ANDR JULES MICHELIN, manufacturer, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Clermont- Ferrand, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wheel-Tires;

and I do hereby declare the following to be.`

This invention relates to-improvements in wheel t1res,and 1s `particularly designed to provide means whereby a removable rim, carrying fully inflated pneumatic tire1nay` be readily attached to, and disengaged from,

the fixed' rim of a vehiclewheel.

Broadly, thepresent invention consists in a removable rim split or 4cut transversely` and carrying a fully inflated tire, said rimbeingV of a diameter to closely fit the fixed rim of a vehicle wheel, which removable rim may be expanded against the pressure of the inflated tire, so that the removable rim may bei'slipped over the fixed rim. The tools for-expanding the` rim being then removed, the pressure of the inflated tire, exerting on the'removable rim, a pressure as much as 3,000 pounds, contractsthe Said rim, binding it lirmly upon the vfixed rim. In addition, means for positively drawing the ends of the removable rim together may be used, if desired.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a part of a removable rim, carrying an inflated tire. Fig. 2 is a cross-section, showing the felly, the fixed rim carried thereby, and the removable rim carrying the inflated tire, ya portion only of the latter being shown, and the removable rim being expanded. Fig. Sis a View similar to Fig. 2, but showing the removable rim tightly fitting upon the fixed rim and also showing clamping means for holding the rims together. Fig. 4f is a view similar to Fig. 8, with the clamping means omitted and the removable rim indented to retainthe nut of the inflation valve stem and showing in dotted lines the removable rim in its expanded position, andalsoshowing the fixed rim provided with a/ clamping hook. Fig. 5 is a side view of the outer part of a portion of la vehicle wheel, showing means for ex- Z represents the felly, preferably made of wood, and k the fixed rim mounted thereon. Ihe fixed rim is provided with means furnishing 'anF abutment against lwhich the removable rim may be forced,

such as the projection 72.2, Fig. 2, or the inwardly curved supporting parts It, Fig; 4. Any suitable means may be employed for holding the removable rim upon the' fixed rim, such as the strong spring clamps z', Fig.

.3, secured on bolts y', passing through the -felly and provided with nuts and heads k.'

fb designates the removable rim, prefer-` ably made of steel, and having inwardly curved flanges'b, between whichis carried the fully inflated tire a; having tongue portions a. This removable rim is cut transversely as shown in Figs. land-5, b2 and b5 designating the ends of the removable rim.

` To close the gap between 'the ends 52 and b3, I provide a metal plate f, curved conformably'to the curve -of the removable rim and attached by rivets gf to the end b2. It should be noted thatthe contraction produced by the inflated tire can compress the removable rim b until the ends b2 and b3 strike each other, when any further compression is stopped by the striking of said ends against each other. y Any suitable means may be employed for expanding the removable rim b, so that it may readily be slipped upon the fixed rim, as shown in Fig. 2. In Figs. l and 5 such means are shown, including members g, secured to the ends b2 and b3, respectively, of the removable rim. One of these members g is provided with screw-threaded nuts ai and the other is'provided with slotted lugs e. Bolts c, each having a rounded recess in its head, adapted to lit into thecorrespond ing slotted luge, but to revolve freely therein, are provided, and engage the nuts d, the construction on each side of theremovable rim Z2 being the same. The expanding device may be made independent of the rebers g are of the same shape in cross section as the removable rim.

By turning the bolts c the ends b2 and b3- of the removable rim may be forced away from each other, against the pressure of the fully inflated tire, so that the removable pandingk the removable rim and for drawrim may be 4easily slipped over the fixed ing the ends of the removable rim together. rim, as shown inFig. 2.- On turning the 110 bolts c in the reverse direction the pressure of. the 'infiated tire will immediately contract the removable rim, binding it-firmly to the fixed rim. In addition to the holding force of the infiated tire, the .bolts c also serve to hold the removable rim upon the fixed rim, but under ordinary conditions, the pressure of the inflated tire is fully sufficient to accomplish this result.

I do not limit myself to thel particular means shown for expanding the removable rim against the pressure of the infiated tire,

' for other means will readily suggest themselves to thosey skilled-in the art. Any suitable means maybe employed for expanding the removable rim before it is placed upon `rim upon the fined rim after the removable the fixed rim, and for locking the removable rim has been allowed to contract, under the pressure of the, inflated tire, and to firmly grip the fixed rim. y

After the removable rim has been placed over the fixed rim, as shown in Fig. 2, the

' expanding-means are manipulated so that the pressure of the inflated tire will contract the removable rim until it engages the fixed rim, as shown in Fig. 3. The clamps i are then slipped over the Abolts k and the nuts lscrewed home on said bolts, making a compact and firm wheel structure.v To remove' compressive actionL of said tire, to permit itI to slip over the Wheel, said means being also adapted when released to permitsaid rim to contract and firmly grip said wheel under said compressive action of stantially as described. i

2. vThecombination of an infiated tire and a rim on which said tire is mounted, said rim being cut transversely and provided with projecting portions, whereby said rim may be expanded, against the pressure of ysaid tire, subthe tire, so that it may be slipped over a.

vehicle wheel, substantially as described.

3. The combination of an inflated tire and a rim on which said tire is mounted, said rim being cut transversely and provided with. means whereby, by the application of pressure, said rim may be rexpanded against the pressure of said tire, andalso-provided with a closure fitted across the'break, substantially as described.

4. The combination 'of a wheel body, a

removable rim carrying a fully inflated tire,

said rimA being cut transversely-'and having agplateover the break, and also having means whereby said rim may be expanded ,against the pressure ofsaid tire, and means for clamping the entire-structure together, substantially as described.A

5. The combination of a wheel body pro.-

vided with a felly, an abutment, with a removable rim 'carrying an inflated tire, said removable rim having normally an inside diameter equal to the outside diameter of said fixed rim, and said removable rim being cut transversely and having a plate fitted across the break, and also having means whereby said"` removable rim may be expanded against the pressure of the tire, so that it maybe readily slipped anda fixed rim having over the-fixed rim, and means for securing as described. y

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in presence of two wltnesses.

ANDR JULES MICHELIN.

Witnesses i y R. I-I. BRANDON, I-IANsoN C. CoxE.

the entire structure together, substantially 

